Plastic bag with cinching means and methods of using same

ABSTRACT

A bag for carrying items is provided having side panels, a bottom and at least one handle created integrally with at least one of the side panels. At least one opening is formed in one of the side panels opposite from the at least one handle. In the use of a bag created using the teachings of the present invention, the handle portion is fed through the at least one opening in a side panel, causing the closing, or cinching, of the bag such that the contents are better maintained therein. The bag is grasped by the cinched handle and carried or attached to a hook or other means to maintain the bag generally immobilized during transportation. The bag of the present invention provides the added feature of helping to maintain the required temperature of the contents by withstanding the flow of heat by closing the bag as well as aiding in the preventing of spillage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a plastic bag of the type used by restaurants, including fast-food restaurants, and other take-out food establishments, to package food that will be removed from the premises by the patron and the method of using the bag. More particularly the present invention concerns a plastic bag having an opening made in at least one panel through which the handle from one panel of the bag may be inserted to provide a closed carrying receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As long as there have been restaurants that offer patrons the ability to carry food home with them, including leftovers from a meal eaten at the restaurant or meals ordered to go, there has been a need for appropriate packaging to aid in the transportation of the food. The assignee of the present invention has developed and patented an appropriate bag for such uses. That bag, which is sold under various trademarks including the WAVE BAG® and the ORIGINAL WAVE BAG®, both of which are owned by the assignee of the present invention, is also the subject of a U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,262 (hereinafter, the '262 patent), which is incorporated herein as though set out in full and which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The '262 patent has been copied by many and is now one of the most popular food carry bags of all time.

The prior art contains a number of illustrations of bags of this type, which are usually formed from tubular film stock made from a suitable thermoplastic material such as polyethylene, as well as methods and machines for making such bags. See, for instance, Platz et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,606,822 and 3,669,347, Goglio U.S. Pat. No. 3,381,886, Ackley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,172, Hanson U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,521, McCutcheon Sloan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,321,354, Ackley et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,565, Ferrell U.S. Pat. No. 4,262,581, Weis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,799, LaFleur U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,003,907, 3,143,277, and 3,853,664, LaFleur et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,915,077 and Hummell U.S. Pat. No. 4,526,565.

One object of the present invention is to provide a flat bottom bag formed from tubular film stock that may be conveniently made from polyethylene or the like. Such bags are typically made of one piece plastic film construction and are defined by a pair of side panels that are joined together at the bottom of the bag by being in one piece relation with a continuous gusset that extends between the bag ends. The side panels of such bags being joined together along the ends of the bag by heat seals that extend normally of the bag bottom. The bag side panels, which are free of each other across the top of the bag, define the open end of the bag.

While the bag that is the subject of the '262 patent is popular and works well to carry foods from a restaurant, there remain some issues in the use that have needed addressing. Typically, the bags made in accordance with the teachings of the '262 patent have two handles which are integral with the side panels of the bag. The bags, which have a flat bottom, permit the bag to remain erect when placed on a flat surface, allowing for the easy placement of food therein and subsequently its easy removal thereafter. However, because of this design, the handles typically remain open and apart when standing allowing for the heat from the food to more easily escape and when carried the user must make sure that a hand is within both handles so that the bag does not open allowing its contents to spill. Further, often times, once such bag is placed in an automobile for transportation home the bag will open, and as a result of a sharp turn or other maneuver may allow the contents to spill out, unless the handles are held throughout the trip.

It would be advantageous to have a bag that could be grasped with one hand, through one handle so that product is kept therewithin. Further, it would be advantageous to have a bag wherein the opening to the contents of the bag could be closed off so that the contents could better maintain their temperature and so that foreign objects would be kept out. Also, it would be advantageous if such a bag could be maintained closed, without the use of extraneous ties, so that after leaving a restaurant, or other packaging location, the bag could be held closed during transportation; as well as attached to a location in a vehicle, so that the bag can remain mostly immobile during transportation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a bag for carrying items comprising two side panels configured to create an enclosure having a bottom, and a top opening is provided. At least one of the side panels comprises a handle, of a type permitting the easy portability of a bag and its contents. Further, at least the other side panel comprises an opening such that the handle can be placed through the opening and pulled so as to cinch the bag shut and allow the use of the handle portion to carry the cinched bag.

In a preferred embodiment of the bag the panels are configured to form a flat bottom for the bag, such as the bag found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,262 which is owned by the assignee of the present invention and is incorporated here by reference. The bag, in a preferred embodiment has two handles, one on each of the side panels. And in another preferred embodiment, both panels comprise openings in their respective panels, such that the bag can be cinched from either direction.

In one embodiment of the bag it is designed to carry specific packages and the height of the opening in the panel (or panels) is specifically set at an optimal location. The location is determined, generally in this embodiment by the proportions of the height and width of the item to be carried. In one embodiment the opening is placed above the bottom edge of the bag at a height equivalent approximately to the sum of the height of the package(s) to be carried plus three quarters of the width of the package(s) to be carried. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that different ratios can be used to achieve similar results and that the placement of the opening can be made in accordance with different factors, including the strength of the materials used to create the bag and the weight of items placed in the bag, as well as others.

In another embodiment of the invention, the material punched-out remains attached to the panel so that in the manufacturing process no extra waste is created. This can be accomplished by punching the bags with a sharpened die, during the manufacturing process, in such a manner that the cut is not entirely circumferential. Such an operation would create a flap of material that remains attached to the body of the bag. It will be understood that an entirely circumferential cut can be made leaving no such flap. Advantageously, the flap of material can provide additional friction helping to maintain the handle and panel, inserted into the cinching opening, in place until removal is desired. It will further be understood that there are various methods to producing the cinching opening that are contemplated herein, including cutting, melting, laser engraving and others known by persons having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that the present invention includes a novel method of use. In the use of the device of the present invention, a bag is provided as described above. The user opens the bag and places an item of food, typically the food is in a separate container, such as a Styrofoam or cardboard package, within the bag. The user then takes one side panel having a handle and pushes the handle through the cinching opening in the other side panel and subsequently pulls the handle and side panel through the opening so as to cinch the bag; continuing to pull until the bag is tightly cinched around the interior container.

The cinch bag can then be carried by the handle that has been pulled through the cinch opening while maintaining the bag closed to keep the food from shifting about and helping to maintain its desired temperature. It will be sent that the food so encapsulated is ideally situated to be transported in an automobile. Prior art bags that are open have the flaw that when transported in a vehicle the bag tends to fall over when the vehicle stops or accelerates or turns corners. Because the present invention allows for the food to be enclosed, or cinched, within the bag and creates a single handle, that handle can be attached to an appropriate protuberance in the interior of an automobile, such as an automatic gear shifter or a window crank, for transportation.

In a further embodiment, a user such as a fast-food delivery company can include a bar or other means within an automobile, to hang several bags of food conveniently for multiple deliveries.

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 1A-1D are views of alternative cinching openings that can be used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a preliminary step in the method of utilizing the cinching feature of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another step in the method of utilizing the cinching feature of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another step in the method of utilizing the cinching feature of the device of the present invention and then grasping and holding the closed bag.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bag made in accordance with the teachings of the prior art.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective, view of the interior of a vehicle showing one embodiment of a bag made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in use.

FIG. 7 is another partial perspective, view of the interior of a vehicle showing on embodiment of a bag made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, in second use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings a number of presently preferred embodiments that are discussed in greater detail hereafter. It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. It should be further understood that the title of this section of this application (“Detailed Description of the Illustrative Embodiment”) relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and should not be found to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, a bag 10 is shown having at least two side panels 12, 14, joined together by forming end panels 16 and 18. An opening 20 into which things, such as food products 21 (see FIG. 2), can be placed is shown having been created by the configuration of the side panels along with the front and back panels. Panels 12 and 14 comprise handle portions 12 h and 14 h, respectively. Handle openings 12 o and 14 o respectively are formed in the upper regions of side panels on handle portions 12 h and 14 h. A bottom 22 is formed, in a manner well known in the art, and most succinctly expressed in the assignee of the present invention's patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,262, entitled “Flat Bottom Plastic Bag and Method of Making Same”. A bag made in accordance with the '262 patent is illustrated in FIG. 5. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that any basic handle bag can be incorporated into the present invention without departing from the novel scope of the invention.

Suitable materials for forming the bag stock of one embodiment of the present invention are considered to be materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or their equivalents having a thickness range of between 0.3 mils to about 0.6 mils, for example. While the size of the bag formed in accordance with on embodiment of the present invention may vary in accordance with the particular usage for which the bag is intended, the invention contemplates that the bag will be formed to comprise essentially two opposed side panels that are continuously and integrally connected together across the bottom of the bag by an imperforate gusset of pleat configuration, and that are heat seal welded together along transverse edges that extend normally of the gusset and form the ends of the bag. The bag ends are substantially equal in length height-wise of the bag, and above the upper portion of the bag side edges, the bag side panels define curvilinear unattached edgings that form the open end of the bag and that include congruent convexly contoured parabolically shaped top edges that are centered relative to the length dimension of the bag which are formed to define congruently located apertures for forming handles for the bag.

It will be seen that the side panels 12 and 14 each further comprises an opening 24 in an appropriate location along panels 12 and 14. In a preferred embodiment, the opening 24 has an arcuate shape, resembling somewhat a horseshoe. Persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the shape and location of opening 24 can be modified, so as to accommodate different types of bags and carrying needs, without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. A number of such alternative openings 24 are shown in FIGS. 1A-1D; however, it will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art, that the figures are included for illustrative purposes and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. As shown, the shape of cinching openings 24 can be arcuate, flattened, elongated or take the shape of a rectangle, circle or other typical two-dimensional shapes. It will be understood that the shapes of the openings can be made in accordance with the desires of the end users and that the area of the opening and not necessarily its shape will play a more important role in the operation of the device of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, cinching opening 24 is made so that a flap of material 24 f remains when the opening is formed. It will be understood that by leaving a flap of material attached to the respective panel 12, 14, less waste is created in the manufacture of bag 10. Further, and advantageously, the remaining flap 24 f provides added friction in maintaining the cinching or closing of the bag as will be described in greater detail below.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, a bag having a configuration similar to those previously shown, but having a single handle opening can be made wherein the other side panel is extended but has no handle opening; and comprises a cinching opening 24, as shown in FIG. 1. In such an embodiment, the handle panel of the bag is threaded through the cinching opening formed in the extended panel, in the manner described above, to cinch the bag and provide the needed handle. As the bag will be carried by a single handle, as expressed in the present invention, there is need only to form a handle opening on a second side panel, thereby providing a stronger more resilient panel and bag.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 through 4, a method of using the bag of the present invention is presented schematically. In FIG. 2, a user opens bag 10 (typically by holding one handle 14 and swinging the bag so that air pressure causes the bag to unfold) and places a box of food (or other products) within the opening 20 of bag 10. The bag 10 and food item 21 are then placed upright (either held by a handle or placed on a surface on bottom 22) and one of the handle portions (12 h or 14 h) is pushed into the cinching opening 24 in the panel opposite the handle pushed (FIG. 3). Once pushed into opening 24, the handle portion 12 h (as shown in FIG. 3) is pulled through thereby closing the opening 20 of bag 10. As most clearly shown in FIG. 4, handle 12 h is pulled through opening 24 in panel 14, so that the user can grasp the bag 10 by handle 12 h to carry the bag and its contents in a closed configuration. Clearly, when desired, panel 12 can be pulled in an opposite direction freeing it from opening 24 to open bag 10 for access thereto.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in one embodiment the placement of cinching opening 24 within panel 12, 14 can be done based on an approximate formula based on the size of a package to be placed therein. In FIG. 3, a box of food having a height H and a width W will be placed in bag 10. In such a situation, where that particular size package will be used for a particular merchant or user, cinching hole 24 can be placed at a height h above bottom edge 22 e in accordance with the equation h equals the sum of the height of box 21 plus ¾ of the width of box 21 (h=H+¾W). It will be understood that in situations where varying sizes of packaging will be used, the placement of cinching hole 24 can be made to accommodate such variety. A number of different variations of bag sizes with cinching hole placements can be made without departing from the novel scope of the present invention. It will be seen that placement of the cinching hole can generally be made at a height generally between one half and seven eighths of the side panel height h, without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 a perspective view, partially cut away, of an automobile interior 40 is shown, to illustrate one use of the bag 10 of the present invention. Any person who has taken carryout food from a restaurant in an automobile will recognize an inherent problem with carryout bags of the prior art (FIG. 5). Typically, such bags do not remain closed and tend to tip over or fall when the automobile is accelerated, decelerated or turned. Often times food can be thrown from the bag onto the automobile interior staining expensive fabrics and making a mess. As illustrated, when the bag 10 of the present invention is in its closed, cinched configuration (see FIG. 4) food is prevented from being removed from the interior 20 of the bag. In this configuration the bag is ideally situated to be carried in an automobile, or other transportation device, without being held in the hands of the user. As illustrated in FIG. 6, such a bag 10 can be attached to any interior protuberance such as a window crank 42 or automatic gear shift lever 44, fixing the closed bag to the interior of the car so that it need not be held during transportation.

As shown in FIG. 7, this use of the device can be expanded for the use of delivery personnel having multiple food deliveries to make. A group of bags 10 can be attached to a rack 46 designed to hold multiple bags of food in a delivery vehicle 41. Rack 46 can be easily installed within the delivery vehicle 41 to hold food bags conveniently and securely while transported. It will be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to the vehicle rack 46, or other means to hold bags 10, can be made without departing from the novel scope of the present invention.

Although an illustrative embodiment and some alternatives, of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that various modifications and substitutions may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the novel spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A bag for carrying items comprising: a first side panel and a second side panel configured to create an enclosure having a bottom, and a top opening; at least one of the first side panel and second side panel comprising a handle portion having means to facilitate carrying the bag; at least the other one of the first side panel and second side panel comprises an opening in the panel, such that the handle of the other of the at least one of the first side panel or second side panel can be placed through the opening and pulled to cinch the bag and allow the use of the handle portion to carry the cinched bag.
 2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first side panel and second side panel are configured to form a flat bottom for the bag.
 3. The bag of claim 1, wherein both the first side panel and second side panel comprise handles.
 4. The bag of claim 3, wherein both the first side panel and second side panel comprise openings in their respective panels.
 5. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag is designed to carry specific packages, the first side panel and second side panel define a bottom portion, and the opening in the panel is generally placed at a point on the panel, above the bottom portion of the panel, equivalent to the sum of the height of the packages to be carried therein plus three quarters of the width of the packages to be carried therein.
 6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the opening in the panel is produced by punching the panel with a specifically shaped die.
 7. The bag of claim 6, wherein as the opening is punched into the panel the material punched-out remains attached to the panel.
 8. A bag for carrying items comprising: a first side panel and a second side panel configured to create an enclosure having a bottom, and a top opening; the first side panel and second side panel each comprising a handle portion having means to facilitate carrying the bag; the first side panel and second side panels both comprising a cinching opening in their respective panels, such that the handle of one of the first side panel or the second side panel can be placed through the cinching opening in the other of the first side panel or second side panel and pulled to cinch the bag and allow the use of the handle portion to carry the cinched bag.
 9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the first side panel and second side panel are configured to form a flat bottom for the bag.
 10. The bag of claim 9, wherein the bag is designed to carry specific packages, the first side panel and second side panel define a bottom portion, and the cinching opening in each of the panels is generally placed at a point on each panel, above the bottom edge of the panels, equivalent to the sum of the height of the packages to be carried therein plus three quarters of the width of the packages to be carried therein.
 11. The bag of claim 8, wherein the opening in the panel is produced by punching the panel with a specifically shaped die.
 12. The bag of claim 11, wherein as the opening is punched into the panel the material punched-out remains attached to the panel.
 13. A method of using the cinch bag of the present invention including the steps of: providing a bag having a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein at least one of the first side panel and second side panel includes a handle; providing an opening on at least the one of the first side panel and second side panel opposite the side panel having a handle; taking the at least one side panel having a handle and pushing the handle through the opening in the other side panel and subsequently pulling the handle and panel having a handle through the opening so as to cinch the bag.
 14. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 13, including the steps of continuing to pull the handle and panel having the handle through the cinching opening such that the bag is closed and the contents are contained therein.
 15. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 14, including the steps of carrying the cinched bag by the handle that has been pulled through the cinch opening.
 16. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 14, including the steps of attaching the bag by its handle to an appropriate protuberance in the interior of an automobile for transportation.
 17. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 13, wherein each of the handle is a handle portion and a handhold opening is formed on the handle to aid in grasping the bag.
 18. A method of using the cinch bag of the present invention including the steps of: providing a bag having a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein each of the first side panel and second side panel includes a handle portion having a handhold opening for grasping the handle; providing a cinching opening on at least the one of the first side panel and second side panel opposite the side panel having a handle; taking one side panel having a handle and pushing the handle through the opening in the other side panel and subsequently pulling the handle and panel having a handle through the opening so as to cinch the bag; and continuing to pull the handle and panel having the handle through the cinching opening such that the bag is closed and the contents are contained therein.
 19. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 18, including the steps of carrying the cinched bag by the handle that has been pulled through the cinch opening.
 20. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 18, including the steps of attaching the bag by its handhold opening to an appropriate protuberance in the interior of an automobile for transportation.
 21. The method of using the cinch bag of claim 20, including the steps of providing an elongated protuberance in an automobile whereon multiple bags can be attached by their handhold openings for transportation. 